章節 66: Chapter 41: Throne of heroes

In the middle of the night inside a wide room. Lucias along with the 4 girls laid down on the large soft bed of the main bedroom, peacefully sleeping while hugging his body tightly in their embrace.

Lucias opened his eyes as he couldn't sleep as an event that happened before always bugged his mind... concerning the command seal on his hand.

He got a glimpse of the information about Jeanne's, Artoria's, and Mash's origin from Nia, but all are vague for she cannot access the entirety of the information about the throne of heroes since her angel can only access full information inside the dimension she is inside in.

"...'creator', I want to talk to you"

Lucias called out in empty air before a large portal connecting to the realm of death appeared above him, pulling his soul inside the realm.

"Why have you called for me, Lucias Frey?"

A familiar emotionless voice echoed inside the realm of death causing him to turn his head towards the source.

The 'creator' wearing a oversized dressed entered the realm of death before standing closely behind him.

"... I want to to talk to you about something... I'm sorry for suddenly taking up your time"

"It does not matter, Lucias Frey. Now tell me, what do you wish to know?"

The creator asked as she snapped her finger, summoning a small circular table between them together with a soft chair beneath them.

"... I want to talk to ask you about the summoning section of my ability..."

Lucias asked as he sat down on the soft chair below him, facing the 'creator' who placed several snacks on top of the table.

"Hmm... Why are you curious about such a thing, Lucias Frey?"

"It's just that... I'm a bit confused... that's why I called you"

"Confused you say? Is it related to the servants you summoned from before?"

"Yes... I'm quite curious on their full origin... and how was I able to summon them when the throne of heroes didn't exist in my current dimension"

"I see, so you wish to satisfy your curiosity. Very well then, but... it will take a long time to explain everything to you, Lucias Frey"

The 'creator' said as she stared at Lucias with her cold and emotionless eyes.

"I first need to throughly explain the concept of dimensions, timeline, and multiverses to you, Lucias Frey"

The 'creator' said before projecting 5 different dimensions above them.

"A dimension is a plane that all exist at the same time but all are uniquely different from one another, let us say... this 5 projections above us are an example, all 5 are from different dimensions, each with their own laws that runs their dimension, and they're unique from each because only one of them exist in the dimensional plane... You already know about this because of your skill, isn't that right Lucias Frey?"

She asked before pointing her finger at one of the projections.

"Multiverse on the other hand exist in each and every dimension. All dimensions have their own multiverse where each universe is almost identical with one another, where one person also exist in another, but... in each dimension their is a slight difference. Let us say that in one universe devils can use holy magic while in another they cannot... They are all almost identical but with a few changes in their respective reality"

"Timeline is... how to say this so that you can understand... a collection of several points in time. Let us say that Asia took care of you in your timeline but in another she didn't. In every possible decisions made by one person can change the future that is why a timeline exist in every one of those decisions of hers"

"All points in time exist as the past, present, and future. Let us say that Asia Argento is now living at the present time according to her perspective, but she is also the past of her future self and the future of her past self. That is the reason why there are several timelines created for her past selves be it after or before her birth"

"That is why there exist infinite timelines in several points in time in both past and the future"

"So that means I exist in multiple timelines and universes too?"

Lucias asked out of curiosity as the 'creator' just looked at him with a mysterious smile on her face.

"No... There can only be one of you, you don't exist in different timelines nor do you exist in different universes, Lucias Frey"

"Huh?"

Lucias asked confused from her words.

"You have no future self because the system of time isn't powerful enough to judge your existence, and... no matter what decision you make, it already has a predetermined future. That is the reason why you exist in one linear timeline"

"You don't exist in different multiverses because your a unique existence, you are separate from reality itself"

"W-what..."

"You will understand in the future Lucias Frey... Now then"

The 'creator' said as she brought a piece chocolate directly in front of his mouth.

"Open your mouth"

The 'creator' said as Lucias unconsciously opened his mouth before feeling a sweet yet delicate taste melt on his tongue causing him to look at the her with wide eyes.

"I have studied what you mortals call as delicacies, I'm glad that you like it, Lucias Frey"

The 'creator' explained before giving him a quick kiss on his lips.

"Tell me what you know about the throne of heroes and holy grail, Lucias Frey"

She asked as soon as she sat back down in her seat, looking at her flustered husband sitting opposite her.

"... According to Nia, it's a like a separate entity that records down the souls of beings who has done a great deed as they live, and worshiped after their death... And the holy grail is an artifact that grants any wish of its holder"

Lucias answered as he tried to recompose himself while holding his chest to try and stop his rapidly beating heart.

"Correct, it seems like this discussion will go smoothly than I though, Lucias Frey"

The 'creator' said as she took a sip from her tea cup before continuing her words.

"The throne of heroes is an entire external dimension that exist separate from the other dimensions and time itself, it's main purpose is as what you said, record down the souls of beings who accomplished great deeds be it for good or for evil, and worshiped after their death"

"A external dimension?"

"Indeed, a dimension that exist separate from the other dimensions which is connected to all existing dimensions and their respective multiverses/timeline"

"That is why all the other timeline, multiverse and dimension can use the throne of heroes to summon a heroic spirit from the throne..."

"... So that means that, they exist in other universes as well?"

"... You're case is quite special, Lucias Frey. Indeed they exist in parallel universes but... that is not their original body, but a copy of the original... So even if they die if they were summoned, only the clone will die and the experience gathered by that clone will be given to the original body itself"

"... a copy? So the 3 of them are just a copy of the original?"

"No, your servants are the main body itself... Only the world can summon the main body of a heroic spirit but... due to your gift you are given the same privilege... Also, one of your servants are a special case, Lucias Frey"

"... What do you mean?"

"Artoria Pendragon isn't recorded in the throne of heroes for she has never died due to her contract with the world from her dimension of 'King Arthur must obtain the holy grail while still alive', so her main body is the one that is always summoned, and if she dies after being summoned, she doesn't return to the Throne of Heroes but back to the point of her death, frozen in time... That is also one of the reason why she retains her memories of every time she is summoned"

"... What happened when I summoned them?"

"You... erased their record in.the throne of heroes but due to their need of a vessel to continue to exist, they were given a suitable body created by the gift itself using your own as a model... In Artoria Pendragon's case her body which was frozen in time in her time is brought to you directly as her contract with the world from her dimensions broke. Their souls are now directly connected to yours, so even if you reincarnate into another body, the 3 of them will still be your servants... well if you can reincarnate that is"

"What do you mean?"

"You will know in the future, Lucias Frey but... you're still not ready yet to know the truth about your existence"

The 'creator' says before taking another batch of chocolates from her realm and placing it in front of Lucias.

"Now then... Let's move on"

She snapped her fingers, erasing the projections above them as a large projection of a ruined city replaced the 5 of them.

"Even though the throne of heroes can be accessed by all of the other dimensions... No being from any dimensions know anything about its existence.... except one"

"... Artoria's Dimension"

"Correct, all because of the existence of the holy grail"

The 'creator' said before projecting an image of a golden cup on top of the table.

"A powerful artifact that is only unique in their dimension that has the power to grant one specific wish"

"Specific?"

"It is not powerful enough to intervene with the several powerful races that can bend the laws of reality, so its capabilities are still limited"

"Then how is the throne of heroes related to this holy grail?"

Lucias asked while taking a bit from the batch of chocolates in front of him.

"Because the Holy Grail can only activate under several sacrifices... but no mortal nor lower god's sacrifice is enough to fully activate it... It requires 7 servants to be sacrifice for the Holy Grail to activate and create a portal to The Root, the dimension with the highest density of mana and energy"

"Wait... You mean..."

"Indeed, the servants are only summoned under the sole purpose of being sacrificed to the grail"

The 'creator' revealed, causing Lucias to shatter the tea cup in his hands from the sudden revelation, staring at her in shock as he felt his mind getting clouded by anger.

"Calm down, Lucias Frey"

She said before enhancing the [Gamer's Mind] skill to forcefully calm him down.

"... Thanks, 'creator'"

"You must control your emotions, Lucias Frey. Don't let it control you... do you understand?"

Lucias nodded his head before staring at her with a serious expression in his face.

"Please continue"

"Then... As I told you before the grail can only grant one wish upon activation... That is the reason why the mages instead kill and fight each other with the help of the powerful servants they summoned to obtain the holy grail for themselves... When in reality, it is supposed to be a joint force where the summoner must order their servants to commit suicide and sacrifice themselves to the grail... but that is impossible due to greed"

"... So they're in an endless cycle of being killed every time they are summoned... what bullshit system is that?"

Lucias says while clenching his fist in anger, before getting forcefully calmed down by his skill.

"If you wish to free them from their endless suffering then... summon them yourself using my gift to you. You're the only that has the ability to erase their record from the throne of heroes"

The 'creator' calmly says as she placed a new tea cup on top of the table in front of him.

"You're right... then... How do I earn more summon points?"

He asked staring straight her ethereal eyes with resolution visible in his eyes.

"Then you must unlock the 'Believers' section of your gift, Lucias Frey"

"Believers?"

"It is a section that counts all beings that looks up to you as their True God, all beings that placed their faith to you, Lucias Frey"

The 'creator' as looked at thefamiliar portal behind Lucias with a frown visible on her face.

"You must remember, build your own religion, Lucias Frey and for every believer that you have, the more Status points and Summon points that you can obtain"

She hurriedly explained as Lucias forcefully got pulled back to his body just like before.

"Then let us meet again in the close future, Lucias Frey"

"[Delay]"

Lucias said as he used his reality manipulation skill to delay the time his soul is returned back to his body to ask one last question to her causing him to momentarily experience intense pain coming directly from his astral body.

"...AGHHHHHHH"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, LUCIAS FREY!!"

The 'creator' screamed out in panic as she immediately restored his soul back to its peak state.

"You fool! Do you know what you did might've permanently damage your soul!?"

The 'creator' angrily says while grabbing him by the collar of his neck, surprising him from the sudden burst of her emotions.

"I'm sorry..."

"*Sigh* Don't do anything as reckless as this again, Lucias Frey..."

The 'creator' sighed before reminding him in a helpless tone.

"I... Want to ask one last question, 'creator'"

"Is it so important for you to risk damaging your soul, Lucias Frey?"

"Yes"

"... Then, what is your question, Lucias Frey?"

"I want to ask, if the servants that I summoned are now separated from the throne of heroes... How can the command seal still help them create miracles like teleporting from another dimension?"

"... Is that your question, Lucias Frey?"

Lucias nodded his head, looking straight at her worried eyes that is very unlike her usual expressionless demeanour.

"... It is because the gift I have given you is of a higher existence than the throne of heroes itself... So it created its own modified throne of heroes inside your soul that records down the souls of those you have summoned or spirits you've binded your soul to, giving you the ability to use the command seal without restriction and is only limited to you... you can release them from that throne of yours because you are the moderator of the throne itself"